Germany's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Under Construction Near Borkum

A major development in renewable energy is underway in Germany as EnBW commences construction of the country's largest offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Borkum. This facility, known as He Dreiht, will feature some of the largest wind turbines available on the market today.

The first of these massive turbines, the Vestas V236-15.0 MW, has recently been installed, marking a significant milestone for the project. This wind turbine boasts a rotor diameter of 236 meters and an impressive swept area of over 43,000 square meters, generating a maximum output of 15 megawatts. Each turbine is expected to produce around 80 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, which is sufficient to power approximately 18 households in Germany for an entire year.

He Dreiht is being constructed approximately 85 kilometers northwest of Borkum and around 110 kilometers west of Helgoland. Upon its completion, the wind farm will consist of 64 wind turbines of the same type. The foundations for these turbines were laid last year, and the remaining installations are scheduled to be completed within the next year. The turbines will be transported by ship from Esbjerg, Denmark, where they are being manufactured.

The total capacity of the He Dreiht wind farm is projected to reach 960 megawatts, which is enough to supply electricity to about 1.1 million households. Once operational, it will hold the title of the largest offshore wind farm in Germany until the anticipated Nordlicht I project, which is expected to have a capacity of 980 megawatts, becomes operational in 2027.

Utilizing larger wind turbines offers significant advantages, as they can generate more electricity with fewer units. The Vestas V236-15.0 MW is among the largest turbines currently in commercial use, surpassed only by the MySE 16.0-260 from the Chinese manufacturer Mingyang, which has a maximum output of 16 megawatts. Furthermore, even larger turbines are under development, including a 20-megawatt model from the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, and the current largest wind turbine from Siemens Gamesa, with a capacity of 21.5 megawatts, is being tested in Denmark.

As the global demand for renewable energy continues to rise, developments like the He Dreiht wind farm are crucial in meeting sustainability goals and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The project not only signifies a step forward for Germany's energy landscape but also sets a benchmark for future offshore wind initiatives worldwide.